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Dartford 2 Woking 0 match report

16:45, 23 February 2019

updated: 21:13, 23 February 2019

Dartford completed the double over title-chasing Woking on Saturday.

Goals from Darren McQueen and Phil Roberts earned the Darts a 2-0 win in front of a bumper crowd at Princes Park.

The home side put in a huge defensive shift to keep the Cards out, knocking them off the top of National League South in the process.

Dan Johnson takes the ball away from two Woking players Picture: Andy Jones
Dan Johnson takes the ball away from two Woking players Picture: Andy Jones

Injury ruled out Jordan Wynter, so Dartford moved Dan Johnson to right-back while Mark Onyemah returned on the left. Loan signing McQueen made his home debut alongside Roberts in attack with Charlie Sheringham still not fit.

A raucous atmosphere greeted the sides and the opening few minutes were predictably frenetic.

Dartford were first to threaten when Roberts dummied his marker from a throw-in, dropping his shoulder and almost catching out Craig Ross at his near post with a first-time shot from 20 yards.

The visitors had plenty of early possession but most of it was in front of the Darts, for whom Roberts tested Ross again with a shot from the opposite side of the penalty area.

Tom Bonner's under-hit backpass had a few hearts in mouths but his blushes were spared by goalkeeper Bailey Vose, who raced out to tackle Dave Tarpey in the nick of time.

Vose had very little to do in the first half, with Woking poor in possession and Dartford doing well to cut off the service to Tarpey and Greg Luer.

The home side took the lead on 23 minutes when McQueen collected Onyemah's pass, ran at centre-half Jack Cook and picked out the bottom corner with a precise finish.

Cook and Ben Gerring looked terrified of McQueen's pace and Dartford sensed their opportunity, pressing for a second goal.

Elliot Bradbrook's header from a Lee Noble cross forced a flying save from Ross, although the offside flag was already up.

Woking had plenty of the ball but didn't do enough with it, an aimless punt forward from Gerring rather summing up their first-half performance.

Lee Noble plays the ball forward Picture: Andy Jones
Lee Noble plays the ball forward Picture: Andy Jones

Bradbrook fired a shot wide before the visitors finally registered their first efforts on goal.

Paul Hodges sent a snapshot wide after Ross' long kick had dropped at his feet in the box, before Vose held a Tarpey strike and then watched a free-kick from the same player drift past the angle in stoppage-time.

Hayes needed treatment at the start of the second period, but was able to carry on, before Bonner blocked Cook's overhead kick in a crowded penalty area.

The home side were enjoying a good spell, winning the midfield battle, although their final ball was lacking at times.

Woking missed a big chance when the unmarked Hodges lifted a low cross over the bar from just a few yards, before substitute Jake Hyde missed the target with a header from Tarpey's right-wing free-kick.

Noble was now playing wide on the Dartford right, with Billy Crook on for Hayes, but the Cards were getting on top.

Tarpey whipped a shot just wide from the edge of the box with the home side camped in their own half.

But they broke their shackles, to devastating effect, 20 minutes from time. One pass beat the Woking offside trap and Roberts ran clear before beating Ross with a composed finish.

Now the Dartford fans were making all the noise and Cook saw his header from a left-wing cross drop tamely wide.

Vint threw himself in front of a Hyde shot as the Cards grew increasingly frustrated and in the end, Darts saw the game out comfortably.

Tom Murphy came off the bench and almost laid on a third goal at the death, his low cross scrambled off the line with Woking now a beaten side.

Dartford: Vose, Johnson, Vint, Bonner, Onyemah, Hayes (Crook 58mins), Noble, Bradbrook, Greenhalgh, Roberts (Coker 82mins), McQueen (Murphy 85mins). Subs not used: Smith, Murphy, Walsh.

Woking: Ross, Gayle, Casey, Cook, Gerring, Jolley (Kretzschmar 74mins), Hodges, Collier, Tarpey (Bradbury 74mins), Luer, Allassani (Hyde 46mins). Subs not used: Kamara, Dunn.

Attendance: 1,720.

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